The Dyer's Guide / Being a compendium of the art of dyeing linen, cotton, silk, wool, muslin, dresses, furniture, &c. &c.; with the method of scouring wool, bleaching cotton, &c., and directions for ungumming silk, and for whitening and sulphuring silk and wool; and also an introductory epitome of the leading facts in chemistry, as connected with the art of dyeing

by Thomas Packer

The action of alum and tartar upon wool.

From the experiments of Dr. Ure, (Notes to Berthollet, vol. ii. p. 323.) it appears that alum has the property of increasing the solubility of cream of tartar; that as, in using alum and tartar, the wool is impregnated with alum and a large quantity of tartaric acid, these two salts should never be employed together, except when the colour is susceptible of being heightened and rendered brighter by acids, as is the case with cochineal, madder, and kermes. On the contrary, alum should never be employed for wools intended to be dyed with woad, or Brazil wood, the colour of which is easily destroyed or altered by acids.

To conclude these preliminary observations, wool has a strong and powerful affinity for all dyeing materials; and, therefore, the processes for dyeing wool are, in general, by no means so complicated as those for dyeing cotton, silk, &c.; although some colours, even to these, are readily, and without a complication of processes, imparted.